Many thanks to Kevin Duffy for pointing me in the direction of this essay by Bastiat. It’s a marvel, filled with ideas, each of which could be developed into a full book in its own right.
“What is to be said of Roman morality? And I am not speaking here of the relations of father and son, of husband and wife, of patron and client, of master and servant, of man and God—relations that slavery, by itself alone, could not fail to transform into a whole network of depravity; I wish to dwell only on what is called the admirable side of the Republic, i.e., patriotism. What was this patriotism? Hatred of foreigners, the destruction of all civilization, the stifling of all progress, the scourging of the world with fire and sword, the chaining of women, children, and old men to triumphal chariots—this was glory, this was virtue….It is from Rome undoubtedly that this adage comes to us, true in regard to theft, false in regard to labor: one nation’s loss is another nation’s gain—an adage that still governs the world.
To acquire an idea of Roman morality, imagine in the heart of Paris an organization of men who hate to work, determined to satisfy their wants by deceit and force, and consequently at war with society. Doubtless a certain moral code and even some solid virtues will soon manifest themselves in such an organization. Courage, perseverance, self-control, prudence, discipline, constancy in misfortune, deep secrecy, punctilio, devotion to the community—such undoubtedly will be the virtues that necessity and prevailing opinion would develop among these brigands; such were those of the buccaneers; such were those of the Romans. It may be said that, in regard to the latter, the grandeur of their enterprise and the immensity of their success has thrown so glorious a veil over their crimes as to transform them into virtues. And this is precisely why that school is so pernicious. It is not abject vice, it is vice crowned with splendor, that seduces men’s souls.”
In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organised brigandage? For, what are bands of brigands but petty kingdoms? They also are groups of men, under the rule of a leader, bound together by a common agreement, dividing their booty according to settled principle. If this band of criminals, by recruiting more criminals, acquires enough power to occupy regions, to capture cities, and to subdue whole populations, then it can with fuller right assume the title of kingdom, which in the public estimation is conferred upon it, not by the remuneration of greed, but by the increase in impunity.
The answer which a captured pirate gave to the celebrated Alexander the Great was perfectly accurate and correct. When that kind asked the man what me meant by infesting the sea, he boldly replied: ‘What you mean by warring on the whole world, I do my fighting on a tiny ship, and they call me a pirate; you do yours with a large fleet, and they call you Commander.’ (The City of God, IV, 4)
Entering the home of an elite Roman family, you would pass through the Vestibulum, often a long room lined on each side with busts of prominent ancestors of the family. I wouldnt be surprised if one of the Bush estates is equipped with a similar space, along with many others from the ruling class.
I don’t have a problem with ancestor worship..or admiration. I like it.
So long as your love of family doesn’t extend to destroying my family..
Mark – that’s augustine..
but bastiat makes even more interesting points in that essay..
It was actually on the monopoly of eduction by the state and its perversion.
Read the whole piece. It’s on econlibrary
It’s ancestor worship if the busts are contained in a private room. In a public one its a message designed to intimidate visitors and convey power.
At least that’s how I’d interpret it.
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Very good. Substitute Washington for Rome and few other words and we have an apt description of today!
Love your blog and we align on many ideas. All of this begs the question–who is this man/woman creature of today that accepts and even exults in the current state of affairs?
They (he/she);
Likes to fill out forms.
Has nothing to hide
Trusts the leadership
Reads and is informed by the mass media
Enjoys working 50 hours a week for 2 weeks vacation in a cube in a suburaban office park.
Eats fast food
Loves Obama/Bush and is loyal to a party
Trusts the experts
Is a multiculturalist and is empowered to be tolerant.
Puts things in good and bad, black and white.
Thinks voting will put everything right.
Then there are a few on the edge who live this way but do so with the aid of powerful medications to make life bearable.
Then there are a few of us weirdos…
The compelling thing is the tension between the illusion of individuality and forced confromity–must be able to put life on electronic application, have good credit, job stability (I wonder who people who are now credit impaired will ever get a job now that credit checks ae part of most good paying jobs?) no drug use, no membership in rightwing organizations or any other unique outfits, not too much overseas residency, etc….
Who is this new man?
All of this begs the question–who is this man/woman creature of today that accepts and even exults in the current state of affairs?
I can tell you this: they include most of my braindead, clueless, stuck-up, snobbish, ex-freinds, co-workers, and some family memebers.
It’s not a new man, it’s an old man, perhaps archaic, increasing in percentage in the general population.
They are the ones that, because of undeveloped logical analytical thinking capabilities, can be domesticated into serving the interests of the elite in ruling the collective.
Through deception and manipulation, their moral spheres* are hijacked to re-create the ancient regime while leaving them in a stupor of self-righteousness.**
It’s an old man; going back to hunter-gatherers for socialists, and to the settlement (town) folk for fascists. Both pre-modern technology, both destructive to civilization.
*The Moral Instinct by Stephen Pinker:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/13/magazine/13Psychology-t.html
**Emory Study Lights up the Political Brain by Drew Westen:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-01/euhs-esl012406.php
Hello Lila,
Your piece today reminds me somewhat of Simone Weil’s essay “The Great Beast” in her Selected Essays; and also her remarks on Rome in L’Enracinement (The Need for Roots – which should be required reading today.) She makes the point that it is the worship of false greatness, such as promulgated by Roman “virtue,” that is the bane of our civilization today.